Main menu

A desperate and largely unknown humanitarian crisis is deteriorating in the Lake Chad Basin region of West Africa, forcing millions of people to flee their homes and leaving millions more in need of humanitarian assistance. Oxfam is providing life-saving support but help is urgently needed to prevent the crisis turning into a catastrophe.

Since January 2015 more than 1 million women and men fleeing war, persecution, natural disasters and poverty entered or passed through Greece in search of safety and a better life. We are working in Athens, Lesvos island and the Epirus region of North-West Greece responding to the urgent needs of people arriving. Support our work.

Did you know that 90% of Africa’s rural land is undocumented, leaving rural communities vulnerable to land-grabbing? It's a matter of human rights. It's their land. Join our collective effort to make a difference not just for Indigenous Peoples and local communities but for the health of the environment and ending poverty and inequality.

Every year, the gap between rich and poor gets even wider – and it’s being fuelled by the use of tax havens. Today, 62 individuals have the same wealth as the poorest half the people on our planet. It is time to bring an end to inequality. It is time to Even it up!

Two years of extended fighting has forced thousands of people to seek refuge in Nyal and the islands surrounding it. Many must regularly walk long distances alone in search of aid and food. We are assisting them to access free and safe travel by training canoe operators and distributing vouchers for transport.

For 40 years, the Quechua communities in Peru have lived with contaminated rivers, and poor health as a result of oil drilling. Teddy Guerra is leading the effort to obtain integral land rights for his community before any more concessions are given to oil companies. Read his story and sign the petition.

Millions of people are being forced to flee their homes, risking everything to escape conflict, disaster, poverty or hunger. We are working in nine of the ten top refugee source countries as well as in refugee host countries. We urgently need your help to reach people in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and in Europe.

With no end in sight to the conflict in Syria, hundreds of thousands of people are living in desperate conditions and exposed to continuing violence. Today, half the pre-conflict population of 22 million Syrians have fled their homes and more than 13.5 million people urgently need your help.

You are here

Oxfam India to provide emergency assistance in Uttrakhand

This is one of the worst calamities to have struck Uttarakhand in recent times. The problems such a calamity leaves behind are complex and need interventions at many levels.

Nisha Agrawal

CEO Oxfam India

As of 23rd June, the number of people stranded in Uttarakhand stands at 20,000.

An estimated 75,000 people have been rescued by all defence forces put together till 23rd June.

At least 75 villages have been severely damaged. However, local partners are estimating that 400 villages across Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Tehri regions have been washed off, submerged or affected.

Oxfam India has announced an immediate emergency relief response in the flood affected areas of Uttarakhand. Oxfam India is providing humanitarian assistance in the form of non-food items such as fleece blankets as well as dry food rations to the flood affected and shelter-less and coordinating its efforts with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and through its partners in the affected areas.

Once access is possible, Oxfam India will immediately assess the situation with the help of the local administration and its local partners based in Uttarakhand. This is a large and complex operation given the geography of the area and the extent of the damage which is still to be assessed in full. Oxfam’s relief operations include providing water and sanitation, safety and protection of women and children. Since Uttarakhand is also one of Oxfam India’s 7 focus states, beyond the short term relief operation, Oxfam India is committed to strengthen its long term program of support.

Apart from its own contribution, Oxfam is initiating a campaign to invite support in the form of donations from individuals, corporations and institutions for this extensive operation. Oxfam is raising funds from international donors as well.

“This is one of the worst calamities to have struck Uttarakhand in recent times. The problems such a calamity leaves behind are complex and need interventions at many levels. The immediate need of course is to help the more than 60,000 pilgrims and tourists who are stranded. Oxfam is responding to provide provisions to the stranded people” says, Nisha Agrawal, CEO Oxfam India.

Oxfam India is providing clean water and sanitation and focusing on the safety and protection of women and children. We are providing humanitarian assistance in the form of non-food items such as fleece blankets as well as dry food rations to the flood affected and shelter-less. Tarpaulins, blankets - epi foam sheets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, hygiene kits and additional food aid for 1,500 households (8,100 women men and children) are being procured and being sent to Dehradun. Oxfam staff are now based with our local partner in Dehradun and coordinating the relief program.

Donate now

Please help support Oxfam's humanitarian response to the India floods:

Oxfam International Survey

Please help us to improve the Oxfam website! This short survey should take just a few minutes to complete. You can opt to make your responses anonymous. The survey will close on 13 March 2015 at 5 pm GMT. We'll pick one respondent at random to receive a $35 Good Books gift voucher by 31 March 2015. We value your feedback.